McMurphy is the tragic hero portrayed in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. By being fundamentally good and displaying a flaw that leads to his downfall in the book, McMurphy easily fits between Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero and the Modernist definition. McMurphy is a fundamentally good character, even though not noble of birth as stated in Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. McMurphy is full of personality, independent, and life affirming. In the beginning, he seems more concerned about making a quick buck, but as the story progresses, he becomes more concerned with the men he is befriending and representing against authority. The men in the ward look up to his strong character. McMurphy sacrifices himself for the men,
